Heartbreak You - T.L. Smith Page 0,17

start thinking about how you can become a great mother.” His eyes drop to my belly.

“You’ll help me raise her, won’t you?” I ask. “I don’t know how I can do this by myself.”

“Mothers everywhere do it by themselves, and you can too,” he replies.

As he goes to leave, I reach for him again. “You don’t love her, do you?”

I watch him carefully. He flinches at my words and narrows his eyes.

“You do.” I gasp. “Oh my God, you do.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Lucy. Go to bed, it’s late.”

I let go of him and step back through the door. “I could stop you thinking about her,” I tell him.

“Lucy, you will do no such thing. Stay away from her.”

I twirl a piece of my hair around my fingers. “It could be so easy, just slip something in her drink, and—”

Atlas’s hand is fast as it reaches for me. He goes to grab my neck but stops himself short and grasps my shoulder instead. “Stay the fuck away from her, Lucy, and start thinking like a fucking sister should.” His eyes drop to my baby bump. “You will want Theadora around for her.” He nods to my belly.

“No, I will not. I will have you.”

“I don’t like kids. And one that’s yours, more than likely not.”

“You say you don’t like me, but you’re always protecting me,” I point out.

“The first time was business until I saw her, then I didn’t kill you because upsetting Theadora was not on my agenda.” His eyes narrow. “You live because she does. If she stops living, Lucy, so do you. I will find a good home for that baby, and it will never have to know what a fucked-up mother you are.”

Before I can stop myself, I throw myself at him and lock my lips to his. He can’t talk like that he just doesn’t understand how we are meant to be together.

His hands touch my sides, and I grip around his neck, holding on to him tight. I move my lips and try to gain access but have no luck.

I moan, and he pushes, but I won’t be pushed away that easily. You have to fight for what you love, and Atlas is the man I love and have loved, long before he fell for my sister or even met her.

Why can’t he see we would be so much better together?

“Fuck.” He pushes me off and wipes at his lips. His intense, fevered stare is full of hatred. But I know he’s simply confused. He doesn’t understand what he’s feeling.

“Lucy, Lucy…” He tsks. “That’s the last time you will ever fucking touch me without my permission. Which, I might add, you will never ever get.”

“Did you fuck her?” I ask, tears now streaming down my face. “Did you sleep with Thea?”

“Yes.”

“Why not me?” I cry. “Why not me?” I reiterate.

“Did you love Benji, Lucy, or was all this a ploy?” Atlas asks. His eyebrows are pinched so tightly together, his anger has become palpable with his fists held tightly by his sides.

But maybe if I kiss him again it will disappear, and he will see what he’s missing. I go to step forward, but he holds me back.

“Yes, kind of… I mean, maybe.”

“He loved you, Lucy. Benji’s first love was you.” He points out our mistakes. It was easy to get Benji to do what I wanted, he was the puppet, and I was the master. The only person I have ever had trouble with, in that department, is Atlas as his puppeteer. But soon I will have him under my control. One day very soon.

“He stole because he knew it would make you mad, and you found me, didn’t you?”

“I can’t deal with your type of crazy anymore, Lucy. From now on call Sydney if you need anything… I’m changing my number.”

“She doesn’t love you, you know. Thea told me she was using you.” His feet stop, he spins around, but he doesn’t look at me as I let the words fly from my mouth, “She said how easy it was to manipulate you. I bet she told you I always stole her boyfriends. What you don’t know was… you were Thea’s way of getting back at me. Taking what I wanted. Thea used you, Atlas, but I never will.”

“I fucking hate you all… all you Fitzgerald women.” He mutters profanities and then walks off.

I smile as I shut the door and go into the living room, throwing my feet